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6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 1
Dear Friends of Life:
As Christians celebrate the greatest miracle of all times, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, may we be filled with the virtue
of Hope. Victory o’er the grave is the very Truth that keeps us motivated to resist the Culture of Death all around us.
The news can weigh us down: i/Within the first six months of legalizing “Medical Assistance in Dying”, 744 such deaths occurred
across Canada. A third of these took place in Ontario (about five per day) and the numbers are expected to rise as people ‘get used
to the idea’. ii/ Before we could celebrate the babies that would be saved by the U.S. President’s reinstatement of the Mexico City
Policy (which prohibits American tax money being sent to poor countries for abortions), our Prime Minister joined with nations
like Belgium and Denmark to compensate! Trudeau immediately increased overseas abortion funding by $650 million dollars,
despite cries of objection by many in the recipient developing nations (and our own Cardinal Thomas Collins) that they don’t
appreciate this form of colonialism under the guise of helping the poor. What we should be offering is basic medicine, real
maternal health care, nutrition and clean water. iii/ The Ontario College of Physicians seems determined to strip doctors of their
conscience rights by forcing those who object to euthanasia to refer patients for it anyway. The list goes on… Sometimes it is
challenging to believe that Christ has already won The Battle. Regardless, we will continue to place all our trust in Him, and work
like He is depending on us.
To that end, we thank you for joining us in our Pro-life Mission. Please renew your 2017 memberships promptly. This edition
will illustrate what your fees help us to accomplish. We wrapped up another prayer-filled Life Chain (with increased participation
due to several new gathering sites) and 40 Days for Life Campaign in November. We were able to disseminate some very practical
advice to those who attended our “Last Things” series in the Fall. Shirley Christo shared with us the advantages of seeking holistic
palliative care which includes addressing the spiritual needs of the patient. Jeff Cauchi provided sound legal advice and an
opportunity to draw up clear end-of-life directives that do not compromise faith principles. Finally, the documentary “Vulnerable
continues to be shown in churches throughout Mississauga and Brampton. It is
essential viewing for all Canadians as we are being forced to contend with legal and
barely restricted euthanasia.
As you will read, over 300 students and educators participated in the first Culture of
Life day that was co-sponsored by the DPCDSB and ourselves. The day was a
success by all accounts!
Now we turn our attention to supporting the directives of the “Coalition for
Conscience” and gear up for the 20th Annual March for Life in Ottawa on May 11.
Join us. There is power and encouragement in numbers. As St. Teresa of Calcutta
advised, we may not always succeed, but we are asked to try. Whatsoever we do for
the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him.
For Life, Genevieve Carson �
Right to Life Association of Mississauga and Area (Mississauga-Brampton)
All human beings, from the moment of conception, have the right to life, the basic right on which all others depend
President’s Message
Your newsletter, Right to Life and educational web-sites, special events, and guest speakers will continue to provide you with education on the issues.
To receive a copy of the Newsletter via e-mail, please send an e-mail to:
[email protected] with the Subject: “Send Newsletter Via E-Mail”
President’s Message 1
Membership Update 2
From Our Youth Ministry 3-4
Dates to Remember 4
Pastor’s Corner 5-6
March for Life 6
Contact Us 6
Stories That Inspire Us 7-8
In The News 8
Educational Web-sites 8
Stories That Inspire Us 9
Pro-Life Masses 2017 10
In the News 10
In This Issue
Get your Right to Life News in paper or on-line!
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 2
A clarion call to all Right to Life Members! 2016 was a great year in terms of
focusing on pro-life programs, events, opportunities and obligations to keep the pro-life
message in the forefront of Catholic and non-Catholic communities alike.
In May 2016, we were pleased to be able to sponsor buses enabling students from 13 schools
to attend the March for Life in Ottawa. In the fall, we delivered our “Last Things” series of
presentations, with speakers sponsored by Right to Life, illuminating members on the need
for accessible palliative care in Canada as well as how to ensure that you have adequate
legal protections in place against the state, hospital boards or other stakeholders that would
otherwise seek your demise using recently enabled Euthanasia legislation. More recently this
past February, together with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board, we put on our
first Youth Symposium, as part of our Culture of Life Day, which hosted 350 students from
high schools across the Board, featuring Kevin Dunn, Producer of the movie “Vulnerable,
the Euthanasia Deception” along with Cardinal Thomas Collins.
For all of these events, we were able to pay for facilities, transportation, speakers and
materials including informational booklets, fetal development models, prayer cards, all
focused on delivering key pro-life messages. All of this was accomplished with the support
of the human and monetary commitment of our cherished members and the tireless efforts of
board members.
We plan to continue to sponsor informative and life affirming events and initiatives and
sponsor the efforts of worthy organizations such as Alliance for Life, National Campus Life
Network, Sisters of Life, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and others. We also want plan to
continue maintaining a real presence on Parliament Hill in the March for Life in Ottawa (May 11, 2017) by continuing to subsidize bus transportation costs for area parishioners and
students.
In our fiscal year 2016 (May 1/16-Apr. 30/17), with undying gratitude we received
membership fees from roughly 55% of our members. However, we need both a growth in
new members as well as additional support from our existing members to continue to educate
and deliver programs directed towards delivering the message that “All human beings, from the moment of conception through natural death, have the right to life, the basic right on
which all others depends”.
Membership is also a call to active engagement in the mission through participation in
prayerful protest at a pro-life vigil, during 40 Days for Life (Sept -Nov.) and Life Chain
(Oct.), attendance at an educational session or an organized event like the March for Life in
Ottawa. Finally, membership provides affirmation that you are not alone in expressing
concern and gives voice to fact that policy decisions do not go unnoticed.
Along with the newsletter, or from the website (righttolifemb.com/membership/), you will
find a “new member/membership renewal” card for 2017. For renewals, please resubmit the
card with your name and update any changes to your contact information over the year. Make
your cheque payable to “Right to Life Mississauga and Area” and mail using the return
envelope, or print and mail a completed membership form to the address listed on the
website (www.righttolifemb.com). Please send in your renewal as soon as possible for the
2017 membership year ensuring that we can budget for events and initiatives for the balance
of the fiscal year. Make sure your write “2017” on the card.
PRESIDENT Genevieve Carson
VICE-PRESIDENT
Rhonda Wood
SECRETARY Ann Cavallin
TREASURER
Guillermo Batres
NEWSLETTER Anne Braun
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Genevieve Carson
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR Marlene Lobo
YOUTH ADVOCATE & LIAISON
Monica Sabbineni Mehak Jogar
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS LIAISON
(Vacant)
CWL LIAISON Shirley Christo
ADVISOR
Clare Hansford
BRAMPTON LIAISON Liz Rybka
COMMUNICATIONS/WEB-SITE
Chad Hagel
Your RTL Leadership Team
Mississauga and Area Right to Life seeks to re-invigorate and grow its membership across a broad body of age groups and backgrounds and in doing so seek to educate members and the public at large, expose injustices
and reveal the truth surrounding the victims of abortion
Looking for Volunteers for open positions!
Membership Update
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 3
A short while ago, we learned about a very inspirational woman named Mary Wagner. She is a Pro-Life
activist, dedicated to her cause. However, for her peaceful attempts to prevent violence against the unborn, she
was wrongfully jailed for over four years. Her ‘crime’ was to stand outside the abortion clinics, talking to
women who were going to enter and giving them a rose. Despite being told to stay away, she persevered in
helping prevent unjust actions against unborn babies. Mary's incarcerations have not been easy but she
described them as "fruitful in many ways, because a lot of people there are hungry for God and are looking to
reach out to Him. It is an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to be at work in the hearts that are broken and seeking.” She has
sacrificed and continues to sacrifice her own freedom in order to speak up for those who do not have a voice themselves.
One of the key things that stuck with us was the story of how she opened the eyes of three nurses from an abortion clinic to the
reality of their unjust practice of abortion. She was told about what really goes on inside the clinics—pregnant women are
coerced into getting an abortion. Only one side of the coin is truly shown, and it is most definitely not the right one. Pregnant
women are told that having an abortion is the only option, despite knowing that abortion is killing a life which has already begun.
Even though she has been suppressed in so many ways, she has not given up. Her freedom comes in the form of doing what is
right and defending those who are defenseless and voiceless. We feel that if more people become aware of the strength and
courage of this woman, we can change the mindsets of those who are closed off to seeing the truth—just like Mary did for the
three nurses. She is doing her part to fight for the rights of the children in the womb—now it is time for us to do ours.
Monica Sabbineni and Mehak Jogar, Right to Life Mississauga & Area Youth Liaison
Reflections on Responding to On Campus Censorship
What’s it like being a pro-life student on a Canadian campus?
Censorship. What an ugly, awful sounding word. Unfortunately, it’s something that’s
becoming the norm today across North America, particularly on university campuses.
Whether it’s protesters shutting down an event hosting Jordan Peterson and Ezra Levant at the
University of Toronto, or violence erupting at the University of California Berkeley campus
over the presence of a politically incorrect speaker, censorship is alive and well across the
continent. It practically grinds the bones of the soldiers who fought in the World Wars into
the dust, who worked to make our nations free from oppressive powers.
While censorship can take many forms, perhaps the worst comes from student unions. In their fight to end the systems of
oppression they see; student unions perpetuate that oppression by limiting or eliminating groups that go against their particular
ideologies. One favourite target is those that promote the pro-life stance. In Canada, the past year alone has seen five separate
university pro-life clubs enter into lawsuits against their student unions, with varying levels of success. Brandon University
Students for Life, for example, was successful in theirs, while Students for Life at Ryerson University ultimately lost their lawsuit
following a lengthy court case.
Pro-life students at other campuses are having no less of an easier time. University of Waterloo
Students for Life, for example, is on probation following allegations of club misconduct from the
university administration. In October of last year, the club at Wilfrid Laurier University had their
100,000 flag display commemorating abortion victims ripped up within a few hours.
This oppression even raises the question of personal safety for some students. It certainly did for
the pro-life student at the University of Windsor who was assaulted walking home this time last year. To bring it closer to home, recent developments surrounding the actions of the pro-life group
at the University of Toronto Mississauga has had its president falsely accused of spreading hate speech and harassment by both the
student newspaper and student union.
….cont’d
“…the heart is the core of the human person, where all his or her different dimensions intersect: body
and spirit, interiority and openness to the world and to others, intellect, will and affectivity. If the
heart is capable of holding all these dimensions together, it is because it is where we become open to
truth and love, where we let them touch us and deeply transform us. Faith transforms the whole
person precisely to the extent that he or she becomes open to love. Through this blending of faith and
love we come to see the kind of knowledge which faith entails, its power to convince and its ability to
illumine our steps. Faith knows because it is tied to love, because love itself brings enlightenment.
Faith’s understanding is born when we receive the immense love of God which transforms us
inwardly and enables us to see reality with new eyes.” [Lumen Fidei #26]
“It is my hope that doctors, nurses, genetic counselors, clergy, family or friends will make this resource available to
parents at the time they receive the difficult prenatal diagnosis regarding their baby.” – Bernadette Zambri
From Our Youth Ministry
Mary Wagner
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 4
To some reading this, it may seem like I am painting a bleak picture. There is no denying it is bleak. A monster is prowling
across university campuses, snapping up unsuspecting students, chewing them up and leaving them groaning in campus hallways.
All too often, those in its crosshairs are forced to comply with its demands and have most of their autonomy taken away. Those
who stand up, wipe the blood from their lips and stare the monster down with defiance are severely punished, becoming the targets
of sabotage, subterfuge and downright insane attempts to silence their message, all in an effort to stop their pro-life voice – and the
silent voices of the pre-born – from changing campus culture.
How do you beat this monster? Respond with love. Respond with warmth to those in difficult
circumstances who may be seeing our message for the first time. Affirm others’ humanity. Offer
support to those who need it. Above all, remember that you are not speaking for yourself – far
from it. Not only are you speaking for the pre-born, you are also speaking for (and to) those
battered men and women who are seeking refuge from that horrendous monster. Those who
come to me and my fellow activists are the ones who need the most assistance.
To those activists who have been beaten down by the monster: There is a second chance to get up and keep soldiering on! Change
is possible! If you don’t believe me, just look around at the Canadian landscape – 2016 was a banner year for the movement in
Canada and 2017 looks to be just as promising, maybe even more so!
To those activists who are staring the monster in the face: Don’t give up! I know it’s scary. I know a lot is on the line in your
personal lives. But even if we led just one person to the support they need, make abortion unthinkable for just one person on
campus, it will all be worth it. Trust me. It’s what keeps me going on my darkest days – change is possible and it is happening
already.
Finally, to those who are reading this and feel there are no other options available: There are other options there and we are there
to help you access them. You don’t have to face them alone – in fact, we don’t encourage you to! We have connections with
people in pregnancy care centres. We regularly collaborate and enlist the help of people from other life-saving organizations, be it
through the materials we offer or having them on campus during our tabling (albeit as members of the group). These are just
snippets of the support we offer. We’re not pretending it’s going to be easy to approach us. It takes effort – for anyone – to admit
they need help and are seeking support. But trust me – it only takes one small step for our lives to be changed. Whether it is for
better or for worse is up to you. You are the creators of your own world. Together, let’s make abortion unthinkable in Canada!
Chad Hagel is currently the president of UTMSFL See the full article by Chad on www.righttolifemb.com
Event Date Location Time
Mary Wagner Vigil April 9th
Milton Detention Centre (Vanier Centre
for Women) 655 Martin St, Milton, ON 3:00pm (mobilizing at
2:300pm across the street)
March for Life May 11th
Ottawa, Parliament Hill 9:00am – 3:00pm
Sisters for Life Holy Hour May 12th
St. Mary’s Church
66A Main St S, Brampton, ON 7:00pm-9:00pm
Annual General Meeting June 27th Merciful Redeemer
2775 Erin Centre Blvd, Mississauga
7:00pm Mass
7:45pm Meeting
40 Days for Life Sept-Nov. On side walk outside of abortion clinic
across from Trillium Hospital
Daily
8:00am-8:00pm
Life Chain 1st Sunday in Oct. Watch for locations in upcoming bulletins
Important Dates to Remember 2017
“…the heart is the core of the human person, where all his or her different dimensions intersect: body
and spirit, interiority and openness to the world and to others, intellect, will and affectivity. If the
heart is capable of holding all these dimensions together, it is because it is where we become open to
truth and love, where we let them touch us and deeply transform us. Faith transforms the whole
person precisely to the extent that he or she becomes open to love. Through this blending of faith and
love we come to see the kind of knowledge which faith entails, its power to convince and its ability to
illumine our steps. Faith knows because it is tied to love, because love itself brings enlightenment.
Faith’s understanding is born when we receive the immense love of God which transforms us
inwardly and enables us to see reality with new eyes.” [Lumen Fidei #26]
“It is my hope that doctors, nurses, genetic counselors, clergy, family or friends will make this resource available to
parents at the time they receive the difficult prenatal diagnosis regarding their baby.” – Bernadette Zambri
From Our Youth Ministry – Reflections on Responding to On Campus Censorship (cont’d)
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 5
Dear Friends in Christ,
The date is March 25, 2017 – I will be going to church in a few minutes to serve the Divine Liturgy of one of the major Feasts
of the Church: The Annunciation of the Most-holy Mother of God. In church, we will sing:
“Today is the crown of our salvation,
and the unfolding of the eternal mystery; the Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son….”
“The Son of God becomes the Virgin’s Son….” Sounds like Christmas, but it isn’t – not yet. I will remind my congregation,
especially the younger ones present, that the reason we are in church this day is because in nine months it will be – December
25! Christmas! And Jesus, God, is already here on earth, today, forming in Mary’s womb….
I write this to encourage you in your good work. There are members of our congregations, friends and family, who will argue
for abortion for whatever reason. How can this be? Do they not go to church? Obviously not on the Feast of Annunciation
because, for a Catholic, what is being celebrated is beyond arbitrary discussion. With the Angel’s salutation and Mary’s
acceptance, Jesus-God, is already here. Logic tells us that abortion does away with the possibility of birth, in this case,
eliminates the possibility of Christmas….
We pray for those who, for whatever reason, do not understand the Church’s teaching on abortion. We pray and continue to
speak out, confident that God is with us. We pray in a special way every March 25th
, as we celebrate the Feast of
Annunciation, the Son of God, already becoming the Virgin’s Son….
Yours in Christ,
“In the Spring, at the time when kings go off to war, …” (1 Chronicles 20:1)
Ahh…Spring!
The deathly grip of Winter has been overcome! The snow is melting, the sun is warming the face of the earth, the victory of life
is manifest in the appearing of diverse flora and fauna, and the whole of creation seems radiant with revival!
Ahh…Spring!
What a glorious time to wage war!
What?! To wage war?!
Well, according to Holy Writ, such was the vernal tradition of God’s beloved people in the Ancient Near-East as 1 Chronicles
20:1 reminds us. Interesting biblical linkage indeed = Spring and War, the renewal of life and its destruction, could any two
realities be further apart? …cont’d
Pastor’s Corner
From the Desk of Archpriest Roman Galadza
In each Newsletter, our Parish Priests are invited to share their thoughts on Right to Life issues. In
this 6th Edition, Archpriest Roman Galadza (St. Elias Church, Brampton) and Hiermonk Theodosii
Kraychuk (visiting priest-monk at St. Elias) offer their insights.
From the Desk of Hiermonk Theodosii Kraychuk
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 6
Yet for God’s people, surrounded by ungodly nations and their inhuman cultures, the rebirth of creation was an inspiration to take
up arms and to fight like the victorious spring flowers against every enemy of the God of Life who would threaten His people
with their cultures of death.
And this Spring, in this blessed land of Canada, we Christians and all those of good will are being called to do the same!
Not, of course, with earthly arms “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). And to
overcome those influencing evil forces with the much more powerful spiritual weapons of zealous prayer, faithful witness, and
self-giving love.
This May 11th
, 2017, on the 150th anniversary of the Confederation of this great land, thousands of valiant prolife warriors: men,
women and children, will take up position on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for the sake of the Great King, Jesus Christ and His
culture of Life. They will come to ‘stand on guard’, to awaken and inform the conscience of this nation against the evil crimes of
abortion and euthanasia. My fellow Christian, Spring is in the air! Be inspired as the great warriors of old! Join the royal ranks of
the armies of the God of Life and march with us this year at the 2017 National March for Life!
http://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/index.php?p=Schedule_of_Events
This year’s theme is “Life: We Stand on Guard for Thee” which clearly
sends the message to the government that we do not want Euthanasia and that
ALL life should be protected by law. Please join us for this exciting event
which unites Canadians from coast to coast in the biggest annual gathering on
the hill each year.
RTLMB will again be assisting over a dozen
of our Catholic high schools to send students
to the March. Several buses will be leaving from various churches in our area. This year we
are coordinating buses through CLC but if you would like to join with a group from
Brampton contact Liz at 905-452-9330. If you are from Mississauga and wish to go with one
of its buses, call Genevieve at 416-888-0251 for the most convenient departure point. The
cost of a return ticket is approximately $40.00.
Pastor’s Corner (cont’d)
From the Desk of Hiermonk Theodosii Kraychuk
March for Life 2017 Thursday, May 11th – Parliament Hill, Ottawa
www.righttolifemb.com [email protected] 416-888-0251 @RightToLifeMB
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 7
On Thursday, Feb. 24th, Right to Life Mississauga & Area
successfully sponsored its first Youth Symposium on Euthanasia,
in conjunction with the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School
Board. The event was attended by 350 students representing 25
schools from Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon and was
headlined by Kevin Dunn, the producer of Vulnerable: The
Euthanasia Deception.
Kevin screened the movie for the students and teachers at the John Paul II community Center in Mississauga. The movie
Vulnerable is an exposé on what many would call the failed experiment on Assisted Suicide enacted in the Netherlands and
Belgium over 10 years ago. The purpose of the event was to educate the students on the truths and injustices surrounding
Euthanasia and to in part combat the misinformation which has exploded since the Supreme Court struck down the prohibition
against assisted suicide.
In an interactive presentation between moderator and audience, Kevin highlighted the
three main myths perpetuated by the Euthanasia lobby; that euthanasia and assisted
suicide are a form of compassion, the second is the myth of autonomy: that decisions
made between doctor and patient operate in a vacuum and finally, that government
‘safeguards’ can truly protect the vulnerable. The movie detailed case after case on how
families were negatively impacted and often kept in the dark about requests for assisted
suicide and how the vulnerable, the aged, infirm, depressed and disabled have become
categorized as expendable. The movie also provided inspiring cases where individuals
suffering from disabilities or degenerative diseases
have risen above their affliction to deliver and
receive love and care as members of the human
family. Throughout the film, Kevin solicited feedback from attentive students and delivered
a number of moving personal stories.
After a brief lunch period, students walked over to St. Maximilian Kolbe Church for a
question and answer session with Kevin and Cardinal Thomas Collins. When Cardinal
Collins was preparing to celebrate mass, students were introduced to Sister Magnificat
Rose, a Sister of Life, who was visiting from New York. She gave a compelling talk about
how each and every one of us is uniquely loved by the Father. Birthright Brampton and
Mississauga, Alliance for Life, Sisters of Life, and Campaign Life also participated in the
Symposium distributing literature from their booths. In addition to making contributions to these worthy organizations and
covering over various Symposium expenses, Right to Life Mississauga & Area also donated an honorarium fee to the Coalition
for Healthcare and Conscience on behalf of Cardinal Collins.
We hope that this ambitious educational event will be the first of many important pro-life events directed towards youth within
the School Board. Copy the following link into your browser to see the trailer for the movie Vulnerable: The Euthanasia
Deception: http://www.vulnerablefilm.com/trailer.html. Copies of the movie are available from Right to Life Mississauga &
Area for local pro-life group and church gatherings.
These types of educational events are made possible through the generosity of Right to Life Mississauga & Area members.
“The Euthanasia Symposium was very interesting. Before going to it, I only knew the basics about
euthanasia. The symposium was informative about laws in other countries and how the laws may
start out strict but over time gain more and more leeway. It was shocking to learn a major reason
for people getting euthanized was not the actual pain that may accompany their illness but the fear
of pain if their illness gets worse. Overall the Euthanasia Symposium was an eye opener and alerted
me to some hidden aspects, like the fact that the choice is only between the doctor and the patient,
and no one else needs to be involved.” Alexis Lopez, St. Joseph Secondary School
Stories That Inspire Us
Youth Symposium on Euthanasia
Feedback from our Youth
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 8
“I attended the Pro-Life Symposium as part of my annual High School retreat with my grade 12
philosophy class. Prior to this seminar, I didn't really understand what Euthanasia was. Kevin Dunn
was an amazing speaker who opened my eyes to the reality of the issue and how serious it is. I now
realize how those in authority just change the words up to make Euthanasia seem that its assisting
people, when really it is not. In order to deceive innocent people, the government is calling
Euthanasia “Medical Assistance in Dying” when it actually is taking someone's life or
also “Murder”
I believe that if more youth are educated on this early on, they will know the truth and that what is happening is not right.
His Excellency, Thomas Cardinal Collins spoke to us and answered the many questions the students had in a simple yet
powerful way. I am glad I took part in this symposium and I highly recommend it for other students as well.
Thank you and God Bless,
Cassandra Fernandes”
Spare me the propaganda that denying women access to abortion is perpetuating violence against women. It sickens me that now
more of my tax dollars are being channeled to abortions both here and abroad, foisted on developing countries who do NOT want
them tied to real medical aid.
Justin Trudeau brags that he is a feminist. Well not all feminists believe that abortion is good for women. The earliest of
feminists like Dr. Elizabeth Blackmore and Susan B. Anthony all decried abortion as hurtful to women. It condemned people
who would enact violence against the most vulnerable, our tiny sisters and brothers in the womb. Why doesn't the current
Minister of the Status of Women care that the preborn are being cruelly dismembered when science confirms the fetus feels pain?
Don't those little girls deserve our compassion? Why aren't women told about the very real and substantiated link between
abortion and breast cancer plus all the other physical and psychological risks of abortion? I wouldn't wish abortion on anybody.
Pregnancy, which is not a disease, can pose very real challenges; but a caring society responds with love and assistance.
Never violence. Please look at what the abortion procedure is at each stage and see if it is not barbaric. This feminist believes
that Women and babies deserve better.
Submitted to the Brampton Guardian, March 5, 2017
Feedback from our Youth
Youth Symposium on Euthanasia (cont’d)
“Spare Me the Propaganda” by Genevieve Carson
President, Right to Life Association of Mississauga and Area
Additional Educational Web-Sites to Keep You Informed
Life Site News
www.lifesitenews.com RighttoLifeMB
www.righttolifemb.com
Coalition for HealthCARE and
Conscience
www.canadiansforconscience.ca
Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
www.epcc.ca
The Interim
www.theinterim.com
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 9
MILTON, Ontario, February 21, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) — Mary Wagner spent her birthday locked up at the Vanier Centre for
Women as a pro-life “prisoner of conscience.”
Wagner will remain in jail until her May 24-25 hearing on charges of breach of probation. She is scheduled to appear at Old City
Hall Court on February 24, when a third charge of breach of probation can be entered. The Crown is seeking a 18-month jail
sentence if she is convicted.
In December, Wagner was arrested after she entered the waiting room of the Bloor West Village Women’s Clinic in Toronto and
quietly offered women a rose with a card that included information on abortion alternatives. She has been arrested on multiple
occasions and spent 4 1/2 years in jail over the last 16 years for attempting to peacefully intervene to rescue unborn children.
February 12th
was Wagner’s birthday and a group of faithful pro-lifers wanted to offer her
hope and solidarity. They honoured her special day by going to the prison parking lot to pray
for her, her mission, and a change of laws in Canada. They did not want her to feel that “no
one cares.”
Two members of the group had scheduled a visit with Mary inside the prison. Upon entering
the meeting room through the glass, Mary’s face was all smiles while “Happy birthday” was
sung through a telephone. She was delighted to know that there were people outside in prayer
and acknowledged receipt of several birthday cards, some as far away as Poland.
Ironically, she is a “pro-life hero” in Poland yet largely ignored in her home country of Canada.
Mary, even through the glass, appeared to be abounding in peace and joy. One immediately sensed her connection with God.
Asked about the possibility of taking her case to the higher courts and even the Supreme Court, Mary asked not to put trust in the
court system, which is itself broken, but to trust in God and in His power to end abortion.
Upon mentioning to her that the pro-life movement needs to be unified in its calling, Mary offered a reminder that everyone is
already are united under God. There just needs to be “one voice” for God. She encouraged all pro-lifers to remain committed to
defending the unborn in any way and not to be indifferent or lazy but to promote life daily.
A recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet was cut short when the guard entered to escort her back to the cell. There was a sad
look on her face that brought the group to tears. It was hard to see her being taken away because she does not belong there. May
her willingness to suffer hardship and personal deprivation provide strength and inspiration for others.
After the visit, the group discerned that more prayer vigils near
the prison need to take place. In this way, it shows trust in God
and witnesses His truth to others. The plan is to organize a prayer
vigil once a month and get the word out for others to join.
Please keep Mary in your prayers and help fill her prison cell with
letters of support. Her address is Mary Wagner, C/O Vanier
Center for Women, PO Box 1040, 655 Martin St., Milton On L9T
5E6.
Mary Needs your Help During her incarceration, Mary has not received many pastoral visits. We are currently looking for a Priest to visit Mary and deliver sacraments to her.
Stories That Inspire Us
“Pro-life hero spent her birthday in prison. But pro-lifers made sure she wasn’t alone” - by Jolanta Galazka, President of 40 Days for Life Mississauga
6th Edition – March for Life Edition Spring-Summer 2017
Page 10
Church Date Time
Our Lady of the Airways Sunday, July 9th 10:30 am
Sts Peter and Paul Wednesday, August 2nd 12:10pm
St. Mary Star of the Sea Thursday, September 7th 9:00am
St. Catherine of Siena Friday, October 27th 7:00pm
Sts Martha and Mary Saturday, November 4th
Sunday, November 5th
4:30pm
9:00am, 11 am
Merciful Redeemer Tuesday, December 12th 7:00pm
Bill 84, Medical Assistance in Dying Statute Law Amendment Act, is moving quickly through the Ontario legislature and will
become law shortly after April 11th, 2017. This bill will decide the implementation of Medical Assistance in Death (MAID) in
our province. It needs robust amendment.
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs under the chair of Peter Milczyn (Liberal / Etobicoke—Lakeshore)
has recently completed two days of hearings from the public on March 23rd and March 30th. Despite the fact that more than
half of the presentations (67%) asked for conscience protection, and a similar percentage (66%) of Canadians from the Angus
Reid forum responded clearly to a national survey that medical professionals should not be obligated to provide MAID if it is
against their moral beliefs there has been NO significant progress that has been made for making a
robust amendment for conscience protection.
The provincial government was elected by the Ontario people to represent us in the legislature. As
a nurse who has been privileged to provide years of whole person palliative care that is grounded
in my professional nursing code of ethics, my religious beliefs and the moral convictions of my
Irish-Scottish cultural background, I have repeatedly joined my voice with hundreds of others to
ask for conscience protection.
In the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (S.2) and the language in federal Bill C-145, no
health care professional is compelled to provide or assist in providing MAID. In the original
resolution put forward by RNAO in May of 2014 there was a clear procedural safeguard that health
professionals and organizations need not participate. Why then are our members of the Ontario
provincial parliament not respecting health-care providers democratic rights NOT to be involved in
assisting death for reasons of conscience as former Liberal MPP John Milloy has asked? One word
‘effective’ when attached to referral means that we are dictated to refer our patient to someone who
will end their life. This is for many akin to aiding and abetting in the act and unconscionable.
Asking us as conscientious objectors to refer to a ‘Care coordination service’ (CCS) for MAID is not the answer. This CCS has
indeed been requested by many but it must be a separate service that can be directly accessed by the individual or family who
seek MAID. This Alberta model has been used by other provinces and needs to be fully implemented in Ontario.
Thank you on behalf of all health professions who oppose involvement with MAID for writing to your provincial MPP before
April 11 to demand Conscience Protection and full implementation of the Alberta model of Care Co-ordination. A sample
updated letter can be found at the Ontario Canadians for Conscience http://www.canadiansforconscience.ca/ontario.
Schedule of Pro-Life Masses 2017
“Ontario MPPs Still Need to Amend Bill 84 to Respect Conscience Rights and Provide a Care Co-ordination Service”
by Shirley Christo RN, BScN, MHSc Med & CWL Liaison for Right to Life Mississauga & Area
